Nokea
You are calling a health-care provider to report a possible wound infection. What information will you include in your report?
- A. Most recent vital signs
- B. Amount and type of wound drainage
- C. Observed signs of infection
- D. Type and frequency of bowel movements
- E. Patient's rating of his or her pain
- F. Amount of activity the patient has had in the past 24 hours
- G. Laboratory results
Correct Answer: A,B,C,E,G
Rationale: Vital signs, drainage, infection signs, pain, and lab results are critical for assessing and managing a potential wound infection.
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During the inflammatory process, which of the following physiological responses occur?
- A. Capillaries dilate, causing erythema and increased warmth at the site of injury.
- B. Leukocytes are shunted away from the site to fight infection.
- C. Leukocytes move into the interstitial space and attack microorganisms.
- D. Red blood cells deliver more oxygen and nutrients to promote healing.
- E. Fluid in the interstitial spaces prevents redness and pain.
- F. Edema causes pressure on nerve endings, resulting in discomfort and pain.
Correct Answer: A,C,D,F
Rationale: During inflammation, capillaries dilate (erythema and warmth), leukocytes migrate to fight infection, red blood cells supply oxygen/nutrients, and edema causes pain. Leukocytes are not shunted away, and fluid does not prevent redness/pain.
A patient has had emergency surgery because of a bowel obstruction. The wound becomes infected with Escherichia coli. This likely occurred because
- A. These bacteria are always present on the skin and easily enter a wound if sterile technique is not used.
- B. These bacteria grow in the absence of oxygen, which is the case in the bowel.
- C. These bacteria are present in the bowel, and with emergency surgery there is no time to perform special bowel preparations.
- D. The patient had poor nutritional intake because these bacteria grow in dying tissue.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: E. coli, common in the bowel, likely contaminated the wound during emergency surgery due to lack of bowel prep time.
A patient with an open leg wound has the following laboratory results on his chart: WBC 15,350 mm^3 with an elevated percentage of neutrophils. What does this tell you about the patient's wound?
- A. He most likely no longer has any wound infection.
- B. He most likely has an acute wound infection.
- C. He most likely has a chronic wound infection.
- D. He most likely has a widespread bacterial infection.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Elevated WBC and neutrophils indicate an active immune response, typically seen in acute infections, suggesting the wound is acutely infected.
All of the following are found during your assessment of a surgical wound. Which would concern you the most?
- A. Edges of the wound are together except for a 1-cm area at the distal end, which is open approximately 1.5 cm.
- B. All sutures are intact, but one suture is somewhat looser than the other sutures.
- C. The 2-cm margin around the wound is red, warm, and swollen.
- D. The patient complains of increasing pain in the incisional area compared to yesterday.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Redness, warmth, and swelling around the wound margin are signs of infection, which is most concerning and requires prompt intervention.
The nurse realizes that the patient with a shoulder incision needs more teaching when the patient says
- A. I know the signs of infection and will report them to the physician if they occur.'
- B. If my fever goes above 100 degrees, I will notify my doctor.'
- C. I know how to change the dressing on my incision and have done it three times.'
- D. I will take these antibiotics until the doctor removes the staples.'
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Antibiotics should be taken for the full prescribed course, not until staples are removed, indicating a need for further teaching.